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ashwil, you can see it directly applies to life in the universe. Knowing absolutely nothing, there is a 50/50 chance that life doesn't exist elsewhere in this universe. If we find that the building blocks of life (amino acids) somehow form in other places, then this will make life more likely to exist. If, however, we found that this wasn't the case, that amino acids are extremely hard to form, then it would make life less likely.
But it's much more complex than this. (Our) Life is very complex. It extremely rarely (if ever) occurs naturally. We haven't been able to make it. A genesis event doesn't happen very often at all, especially with oxygen now in the atmosphere.
Then again.... There is no requirement for life to be like our life. Maybe somewhere simple life does exist.
There are too many known unknowns, and unknown unknowns to make any kind of guess at what the chances of life are. But do you agree that there is a chance?
Ok, darn it! (am I allowed to say that?). I will, on this very rare occasion, concede that such a scenario does make it more likely when viewed from a standpoint of incomplete and developing knowledge. And, yes, there is a teeny weeny chance that some kind of identifiable life exists somewhere else. Mind you, given that I started from a completely indefensible dogmatic stance, putting forward a point that I don't absolutely believe to be true, that may not be much of a concession! Maybe I should change my name to Devil's Advocate?
Next subject: "Amino acids - Their misconceived role in the formation of living organisms"
Oh yes, please do be careful with the razor!
I must be doing pretty well then. I've been posting bad maths and annoying people (well, Ricky, anyway!) for nearly 2 weeks and I haven't got myself banned yet!!!
Does a tree falling in a forest when nobody is present make a noise?
Ricky, you're really quite good at this kind of logical reasoning, aren't you?
Let me think about that one, as I'm sure it doesn't quite work in the "life on other planets" example, but it does deserve some more thought. For the mean time, let me leave you with this thought:
Once we are down to 2 cups and the probability is 50%, I either pick the right cup or the wrong cup. Irrespective of the probability (which is really only an aid to forecasting), I will either be 100% right or 100% wrong.
13. Florence Nightingale
BTW, I thought Joan of Arc was not Maid of Orleans, but Made of Wood (sick joke, sorry)
2. Valentina Tereschkova
mathsy, calculate the following:
What is the probability that ashwil will not only be able to answer an algebra/calculus question correctly, but will also be able to type & post his answer before ganesh, Ricky, krassi_holmz, yourself, mathisfun etc etc.?
I want my mummy!
Many thanks. I had forgotten the technique of considering the nth term. All now clear.
Shucks! Beaten to it by 5 seconds!!
If x = t+1, then rearranging gives t = x-1
We can then substitute (x-1) for t in the equation y = -3t² + 3t so that:
y = -3(x-1)² + 3(x-1)
Multiply out to give:
y = -3(x²-2x+1) + 3x -3
and further to give:
y = -3x² +6x -3 + 3x -3 = -3x² + 9x - 6
Factorising -3x² + 9x - 6 gives:
y = (-3x + 3)(x-2) OR -3(x-1)(x-2)
Solving for y=0 gives x= 1 or 2
Ref, the previous post, do we still think that we should allow guests freedom to post here? The one above doesn't look like spam to me - just an idiot who thinks he is being funny.
Please make people register before they can post!
fgarb, think of it as a parachute and, yes, it will break up easily.
Welcome Dionysus!
Really, don't worry about whether you can answer the tough questions or not. I try to answer questions that are beyond my abilities, but nobody laughs at me! Instead, you will find people who share an interest in maths (and a few other things too!) and who are more than ready to help you understand and learn. Please join in whenever you feel able. I am sure that your input will be appreciated.
Schoolboy statistics trick question:
If you flip a coin 99 times and it comes down heads every time, what is the probability that it will come down heads on the 100th time?
The fact that observation may suggest something doesnt actually change the statistical probability. My level of knowledge (or lack) doesnt change the probability either. Actually, the probability on this issue is irrelevant anyway, as the answer is an absolute - either there is life elsewhere or there isn't. It is 100% one way or the other, we just don't yet know which.
By the way, what is an asteroid?
I think we are agreeing to agree - just taking different routes to do so!
I merely adopted a negative stance because (as a race) we clamour for life to exist elsewhere. I do that sometimes if I feel that it can stimulate an interesting discussion, but rarely do I actually hold such dogmatic or unrealistic views.
As to whether the existence of amino acids makes life statistically more likely, I am less convinced. I think it just keeps the subject open. Whether we find or dont find amino acids, we still have the possibility that life either does or does not exist, so it remains at 50% for me!!
Interestingly, I heard a weather forecaster recently say there was a 50% chance of rain. In other words, it may rain or it may not OR "I have no idea if its going to rain"!!!
I'll settle for my reasoning being good. When you don't spend your time actually doing mathematical proofs, you do forget the notation, the methodology and the formulae, but reasoning powers can still get you a long way!
Before continuing, I should explain that my outspoken and sweeping statement was purely designed to prompt reaction!
Amino acids in themselves are not evidence of life. Nor do they prove that life must exist. They are simply a chemical structure based around hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. The fact that they are components parts of the proteins that, in turn, form part of living organisms on this planet does not require that they will, in the absence of other influence, form life wherever they occur any more than the cheese I had in my sandwich today is proof the cheese will always find its way into a sandwich!! All that it proves is that life elsewhere is, at this time, a theoretical possibility. (Its also pssible that I may have a cheese sandwich tomorrow!)
You see, Ricky, we really do suffer from the syndrome of being the centre of our own universe. The fact that something happened here (or was made to happen) cannot be used as direct evidence that it will happen elsewhere, but we do tend to make that assumption before we have the evidence. In reality we seem to have only 2 very limited choices:
1. Life on earth was created. This neither proves nor disproves life elsewhere
2. Life on earth evolved. This could just have been a zillion to one probability that has never happened elsewhere.
Both of these possibilities have their fanatical supporters, but usually, they comprise people who follow passionate belief rather than genuine sceintific evidence.
The skill for wise men is to keep our minds open to possibilities, but closed to unfounded assumptions.
My personal belief is that we are, indeed, the only life in the universe! I am open to persuasion, but only by genuine evidence, not assumptive reasoning.
Ricky, please define "biological material".
Q8 Just found this reference:
"A molecule is the smallest part of an existing matter (like water), which can still be called like that. These molecules are very small: One drop of water contains a billion water molecules. Water is a combination of oxygen and hydrogen. In a water molecule there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom"
So, I guess that the answer is 3 billion (about half of the world's human populaton). Yeah! I was right!!!
I still think the approximate nature of this article gives credence to a variable drop size!
Of course, Q10 is also in doubt using mathsy's logic. Nowehere did the question refer to human population, so I guess that including other mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and, most of all, insects, would bring Africa and South America way up the ranking.
mathsy:
For 8, well, I understand that eskimos have a few dozen words for different kinds of snow. In turn, we in the UK have many terms for rain. Any Englishman can tell you that the drop size of rain can vary from a fine mist to a bucketful!!
For 3, I must defer to your greater wisdom. The question did not make reference to nature, so the mathematican's answer has to consider all recordings of temperature. From my research, that was done at MIT where they achieved one half-billionth of a degree above absolute zero (-273C). Of more interest, perhaps, is grappling with the concept that they couldn't possibly get below -273C, no matter where they were in the universe.
ganesh, a good lesson for the younger users regarding mistakes:
1. We ALL make them, so don't be afraid of them
2. By all means apologise for your mistakes if appropriate
But most of all, LEARN from your mistakes!!
Nobody taught me this when I was learning my maths. I would have progressed so much more if I had not been frightened to make a mistake.
ganesh, you have given me great heart! If even you can make a mistake, then there is hope for us all!
I have Cyrillic without any special add-ins. OK, I need to do it through "insert symbol", but it is there. I find it hard to believe that it isnt a universal microsft facility.